Filing container



June 14, 1932.

' G. J. PURUCKER 1,862,861

d May 6,. 1931 36 JEraa/er:

Patented June 14, 1932 Its UNIT

GEORGE J. PURUCK ER, OF FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN FILING CONTAINER Application filed May 6,

This invention relates to filing containers having an adjustable partition therein which provides for proper support for any number of articles within the container whether the container be filled or partly empty.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a filing container or cabinet which has an adjustable partition thereacross which will support the contents of the container in upright position whether the contents completely or only partially fill the container, and will maintain the articles in this position regardless of vibrations or jolting to which the container may be subjected.

In many instances, it is desirable to transport a container and its complete contents from one place to another and it is frequently desired to withdraw, either permanently or temporarily, one or more of the articles filed within the container during transportation.

During transportation, the container may be,

and usually is, subjected to vibrations and jolting which cause a dislodgement of the partition in the usual type of filing cabinet. An example of such use would be railway mail use or rural mail delivery. It is, therefore, within the contemplation of this invention to provide a container which is particularly well adapted for such uses.

In accordance with this invention an adjustable partition is provided which is slidable throughout substantially the entire length of the container and which is guided and locked in such a manner that the partition is rigidly supported in vertical position and is not susceptible of becoming dislodged through vibrations or jolting imparted thereto during transportation or moving of the container.

A better understanding of this invention will be obtained from the following description, given in connection with the drawing in which this invention is illustrated in the form of a container particularly well suited for rural mail delivery use, although it will be manifest that the illustrated fornt of this invention is only one example of its many uses.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the filing con- 1931. Serial No. 535,395.

tainer incorporating the features of this invention, a portion of the container being broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of one guide and a partition member showing the manner of interlocking the two in adjusted position.

In the illustrated embodiment of this in vention, the container or cabinet is shown as comprising an open top rectangular container 1 having a bottom 2, side walls 3, the latter stopping short of the top of the container and having the upper edges rolled as at 4, and flanged end Walls 5, the upper ends of the latter extending above the side walls and terminating in a rolled head 6 to facilitate handling and supporting of the container. The end walls, sides and bottom may be formed in any convenient manner and secured together in any suitable manner, such as by spot welding, as shown in the illustrated form of this invention.

In order to guide and rigidly suspend an adjustable intermediate partition 7 at any desired point within the container, a pair of guide bars or rails 8 are secured to the upper ends of the two end Walls 5, the rails extending longitudinally of the container overlying the upper edges of the side walls in parallel relation to the latter. The upper edge of the rails 8 are provided with relatively long narrow slots 9, extending substantially half the width of the rail. These slots are adapted to receive a portion of a transverse bar' 11 secured to the partition 7 adjacent the upper end thereof. The ends of bar 11 are provided withelongated apertures 12 arranged to receive the guide bars 8. The apertures 12 have a width equal to the thickness of rails 8 to permit sliding therein and a depth only slightly in excess of the width of the rail plus the depth of the slots 9 therein. This construction permits the bar 11 and the partition -7 attached thereto to be raised to clear the bar 11 of slots 9 formed in rails 8 and requires that the bar be raised almost the full possible movement to permit the partition to be moved to any desired point to be re-engaged in another pair of slots 9. The relatively long slot 9 provides sufficient contact with bar 11 to prevent partition 7 from being deflected substantially from a position perpendicular to the base 2 of the container. The apertures 12 being only slightly longer than that necessary to permit clearance of bar 11 from slot 9 substantially prevents jolting or vibration of the container from dislodging bar 11 and partition 7 from its adjusted position. In order to facilitate manipulation of partition 7, the upper end thereof may be rolled over to provide a finger grip portion 13.

The filing container may be constructed of any suitable material, galvanized sheet iron being one economical material which has proved satisfactory in use. It is obvious that the shape and size of the container s dependent upon the particular use to whlch it is to be put, and that other constructions may be employed in fabricating the container without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A filing container comprising a receptacle having an open top, an adjustable partition therein, said partion being substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the container, and a guide rail for suspending said partition in said container through the open top thereof, said rail having spaced notches along its upper edge, said notches being of substantially greater depth than width and said partition having means slidingly engaging said rail, portions of said means being adapted to seat within said notches whereby the partition will be maintained substantially perpendicular to said base when interlocked with said rails.

2. A filing container comprising a receptacle having an open top, an adjustable partition therein, said partition being substantially perpendicular to the bottom of the container, and a pair of spaced guide rails for suspending said partition in said container through the open top thereof, said rails having spaced notches along their upper edges, said notches being of substantially greater depth than width and said partition having means slidingly engaging said rail, portions of said means being adapted to seat within said notches whereby the partition will be maintained substantially perpendicular to said base when interlocked with said rails.

3. A filing containing comprising a receptacle having an open top, an adjustable partition extending into the receptacle through the open top, said partition being substantially perpendicular to the bottom of said container, and means for suspending said partition in said container, said means comprising a pair of guide rails extending across the open top of said container, said rails having a plurality of notches formed in the upper portions thereof, and said partition being provided with means having spaced apertures arranged to slidingly receive said rails when in raised position and said means be- 1ng adapted to enter said notches when in lowered position.

4. A filing container comprising a receptacle having an open top, an adjustable part1t1on extending into the receptacle through the open top, said partition being substantially perpendicular to the bottom of said container, and means for suspending said partltion in said container, said means comprising a pair of guide rails extending across the open top of said container, said rails having a plurality of notches formed in the upper portions thereof, and said partition having means provided with apertures therein arranged to slidingly receive said rails when in raised position and said means being adapted to interlock within said notches when in lowered posltion, said apertures having a depth slightly in excess of the sum of the width of the rail and the depth of the notches formed therein.

In witness of the foregoing I afiix my signature.

GEORGE J. PURUCKER. 

